Gas-generating apparatus.



J. H. STRINGHAM.

GAS GBNERATNG APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED 0eme, 1902. RBNBWED DBU. 19, 1903.

935,429 Patented Sept. 28, M209 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 TED v i JOHN H. STRINGHAM, F JERSEY CITY, JERSEY, ASSIGNGR, BY MESNE ASSIG- MENTS, ro sizrivaivfla.l

yTHE WESTINGHOUSE MACHINE CGMPANY,-A CORPGRATION OF PENN- GAS-GENERATNG APARATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

patented Sept. 2&5, i909.

.Appliuation'le (tcteberf, 1902, Serial Zelo. @6,1672 Renewed Deeeni'ner 19. 19523. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern:

Ile it known that l, JonN ll. S'rulNenAM. a citizen of the vUnited States, residing in Jersey City, New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Gastlenerating Apparatus, of which the followingis a speeitication.

My invention consists of apparatus for generating gas for heating or lighting purposes or for use in motive power engines, the apparatus being intended especially for do' mestic use or foremployn'ientin small manufacturing establishments lwhere a limited amount of power only is required, and said apparatus 'being se constructed as to require but llittleattention and no special. skill in -its operation.

In the aceon'ipanying drawings: Figure l7 1s a. view partly 1n side elevation and partly 1n section of gas generating apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2,. isa View of thesame partly in plan,

but with the generator shown in section on the line L -a and the carburcter shown in section on the line 'iF-o; and Fig. 3. is an enlarged section of one of the valves of the apparatus.

M invention -cousistsof a generator for pro ucing carbon inonoxid or as it is usually termed producer gas by forcing a blast of steam and air through a body of ignited Coah, this generator .being combined (or not as desired) with a carbureter for enriching the gas so that `the latter may be used for domestic lighting purposes or for use in gas engines in establishments where power is required, the gas producer having a water jacket constituting a steam generator 'here- `by the waste heat of the gas producer is caused to provide steamfor use in the blast. Provision iswalso made tion of the generated gas for n'iaintaining the heat of the jacket when the waste heat is insutlicient, the apparatus having been de signed with the view of renderingit as nearly automatic as possible, so that no skilled attendant- Will be required to operate it and it can therefore he used as a domestic heat and light plant or as a heat, light, and power plant lin small manufacturing establishments where skilled attendants are not available or where it-is not of the same.

Referring to the drawings, l represents desired to incur the expense l'the gas prodticer casing 'which may be of any suitable vInate'rlillL Size, and shape, but which hopper 5 which tmnununicates for utilizing a por-- is preferably composed or' sheet metal and is ot oblong rectangular form, as shown 1n Ahe produrer has a grated and taj'iering ashhopper f contained within a downward extension 3 of the producer easing l and this hopper has, at the bottouu a vaned drum 1- or other equivalent ash dischargii device, by the rotation of which ashes will he delivered from the lower portion oi the ash hopper 2 into the ash pit. containedlwiithin the (hiwnward extension 3 of til-1 pt'odticer casing.

At. the `top` of the producer ci i ig is a fuel n th a casing ti containing a varied drum 7, said casing GV also communicating, through a contracted neck 8, with the interior of the producer casing, hence, by proper rotation oi' the drum 7, coal in measured quantity can be withdrawn from the beppe 5 and fed into the producer. The neck S is, by preference. provided with a sliding valve 9 so that any escape of gas upwardly through said neck can be prevented during the intervals between the successive feeding operations.

In the upper rportion of the gas producer is a grated fuel distributor consisting of a series of longitudinal rods 10 disposed so as to form a grate" with opposite inclined sides, the apex of this grate being directly below the center of the contracted neck S, whereby fuel passing through the latter will fall upon the grate and will be deflected to right and'left down the inclined sides of the same, portions of this fuel passing down- 'wardly between the bars ofthe grate and the remaining portions being discharged from the lower ends of the grate so as to ell'ect a uniform distribution of the fuel throughout' 95 the area'of the producer.

Surrounding the producer easing 1 is another casing Il and in the space between these two casings is arranged a 'series of vertical tubes l2 which communicate at their lower ends with a combustion chamber 13 and aty their upper ends with a discharge chamber Il, said discharge chamber having ainoutlet pipe or stack 15 and the combustion c iamber having therein a gas burner 1G and 105i being provided with a casing 17 composed of or lined with tire-brick or other refractory -material so that it will not be injured by the heat maintained in said combustion chamber.

Within the lower portion of the producer lill is a blast pipe iS ha ving openings in the top ot the saine, this pipe being?r surmountcd by a hood or detlector 19 having` inclined sides so as to laterally deflect. the body oi ashes passing dowmvardly through the producer and prevent said ashes from gaining access to the blast pipe, the blast from the latter passing outwardly and upwardly around the lower edges of the hood or detlcctor and risinn` first through the ashes and then tl'nfough the mass oi incainlcscent fuel in the producer, is customary in ordinary tuel gas producers,

The space between the gas producer casing l and. the outer casing Yli is filled to a predetermined level with water derived from a supply pipe 20, a constant level being` maintained by means of a tloat 2l (Fig. Q)

which, by means of a connection vsuch as" shown operates a valve in the supply pi pc, steam being generated by reason of the vapo ization ot this fater by the heat of the producer casing 1, reinforced, ii need be, by heated gases from the burner 1.6, which gases rise from the combustion chamber 13 through the tubes l2.

.A pipe e mnmnicates with the steam space of the steam generator, this pipey havingI a valve Q4 which controls the iiow of steam through the pipe 23 to a blower of any suitable construction whereby the steam is mixed with air for supplying the blast pipe i8. in the present instance the blowerpipe QG has three branches Q7, one communicating with the longitudinal central portion of the blast pipe i8 and the others conununieating` with said blast pipe at points between the center and ends of the me, each oi said branches S27 having` a valve L8 whereby the tlow of air and steam through thc same -can be regulated independently oi the iicw through the other blanches. The pipe i8 has no internal partition, but i hafve found in practice that by cutting ofi the tiow throughany of the branches 27, the blast from that portion oi'n the pipe i8 corresponding to said branch will be materially weakened. The action of the biast upon the mass of fuel in the producer casing 1 can thereby be readily governed in accordance with the desired condi tions of combustitm in different portions of 'said mass. `The gas escapes from the producer 1. through a down-take pipel 29 the lower end of which terminates some distancel below the levell of the Water in a wash boX 30 in which the desired level of water is maintained by means of a trapped drain pipe 3l. The gas passes from the wash box ,into a structure surmounting said box and combinin@` the functions of a carburetor, a n fr, d a. holder todI the gas. The einer et this structure constitutes r and contains two chambers tc'c from each other by a horizontal partition 34 except as to the central portions of' the chambers which communicate with each other through a cent al opening 3 5 in said partition.

Above the carbureting chambers is a gas receiving' chamber 36 and above the latter is a purifying chamber 37 containing charcoal or other purifying; agent, this chamber comunmicatinewith the chamber 3G through a central opening 38 in the partition 39 which is interposed between said chambers. Above the purii'yingi` chamber 3T is a water vessel 40 and an inverted bell 4l constitutingl a gas holder, the purified gas from the chamber 37 entering said bell through a pipe 42 and the gas beingdelivered from the bell through a pipe 43 whereby it is conveyed to the point or points at which it. is -to be used. Extending` from the gas chamber ot the Wash box 30 to the chamber 36 is a pipe 44 having three valved branches 45,' 46 and 47, the b 'anch 45 communicating with the outer portion oi the carbureting` chamber 32 and thc branches 4G and 47 communicating respectively with the centra-l and outer portions ot the carburcting chamber 38, and, in the pipe 44, be-- tween the branches 45 and 46, is a valve 4S. Each of the carburetiner chambers and 38 has a spiral partition whereby there is formed in cach ot said chambers a spiral passage 51 extending` from the outer portion of the chamber to the center of the same and the spiral passage of each carburetina` chamber contains a number of tubes 52 oi wire gauze, pcrfm'ated sheet metal, or other openwork material, each ot these tubes containiup,F a mass of mineral wool, asbestos, or other absorbent material, the lower portion of each tube being;` contained within a body of naphtha or other hydrocarbon 53 in the lower portion of' the carbureting chamber 3Q, a normal level of such hydrocarbon beingl maintained by means ot' a. iioat. 54 (Fig. 2) which actuates a valve 55 in the hydrocarbon supply pipe 5G. By this means uniform saturation of the absorbent contents ot the tubes 52 is insured, hence said tubes have a constant carbureting Value andin order to ei'liect a `s {reater or less enrichn'lent of the `tras' the same may, by manipulation of the valves in the pipe 44 vand its lnanches, be caused to pass either. through both ofthe carbnreting,r chambers 32 and 33 or only7 through the lower carbureting chamber as desired, for instruye, when the'valve 48 in the pipe 44 andthe valve in the branch 46 are closed and the valvesin the branches 45 and 47 are open, the gas is caused to travel tirst through the. spiral chamber 51 of the vca-rbureting chamber 32 from the outervportion to the vcenter ot', said chamber and is then caused to traverse in reverse direction the'spiral'passage of the carbureting chanr' ber 33, escaping from the outer portion ...Sage of the carbureting chamber cape directly from the centermof--the-'carbn' l reting chamber4 33 to the branch 46 and to one end of a cord,

- connected to the bell y act upon the valve '55 hence4 will notv be as highly carbureted asthough it had passed through the spiral passages of both carbureting chambers.

In order to regulate the generation of gas to accord with the rate at which the gas` is being consumed, the valve 24 in the pipe. 23 has a Weighted arm 57 Whichv is'connected chain, or other flexible connection 58, the opposite end of which is 41V of the gas holder, the cord passing over pulleys 59 mounted upon suitable brackets 59a so that as the bell 41 rises the Weighted arm 57 will fall and close lthe valve 24 While falling movement of the bell 41 causesan elevation of theA arm 57 and an opening of the valve 24, hence, when suiicient 'gas has been generated to raise the bell to a predetermined height, theblast Will be cut o from the pipe 18 and the generation of gas in the producer Will be arrested, such generation being. resumed, however, as soon as suiiicient gas has been Withdrawn from the bell 41 to permit such descent of the same as will again open the valve 24. In like manner, the supply of' gas to the burner 16. is regulated by the7pressute of steam maintained in the steam generator 11, the means for accomplishing this result being as follows: A pipe 60 leading from the steam chamber of the generator 11 communicates With a pressure device 61 similar Vto that of an ordinary damper regulator, the Weighted lever 62 ofsaidfdevice being connected by a rod 63 to an arm 64 on a valve 65 which is interposed in a pipe 66 leading from the gas delivery pipe 43 to the burner 16, said valve being so constructed (as shown in Fig. 3l that when the pressure in the steam gen# erator is sufficient to lift the weighted lever 62 the flow of gas through the pipe 66 will be almost entirely cut olf, hence only a small igniting flame will be maintained at the burner 16.- If, however, the pressure of steal'nV in the generator 11 falls .below a predetermined limit the weighted Alever 62 will 65 so as to open the same and permit 'such flow of gas into the burner 16 as will supply to the generator 11 s uiicient additional heat to raise the pressure of steam therein to the desired limit.

The automatic features of the entire gas generating apparatus coperate as follows., In normal operation, a eoiisiderable quantity of gas may be drawn off through the pipe 43 for use in adesired manner. l/ Vhen the amount draw1r0fi'iiSvaried, the resulting change of pressure inthe'holder 40 will 'upon the quantity of steamv vice 41, 57,

.continued for a v,large amount of gas is discontinued, but

regulate the valve 24 to permit more or iess steam to flow from the steam generator into the pipe 23, thuscausing more or less air to .be .'dravvninto'the blower 25, and supplying more or less oxygen to the fuel, thus causing the generationfmore or less gas to corres'pondY with the varying demand upon the holder. This variation of the steam drawn from the steam generator regulates the valve 22 (Fig. 2) to permit more or less Water to flow into.` the steam. generator, 1n. proportion to the amount of steam drawn off through the pipe 23, thus maintaining a substantially` constant body ofwater to be heated. The operation of the device 21 is thus dependent permitted by the device '41, 57 to vHow through the pipe The steam pressure in the steam generator may be normally quite low, and therefore the Water may be supplied under ordinary city pressure. The variation of the' steam pressure in the steam generator also regulates the valve 65, to permit more or` less gas to flow to the burner 16, thus maintaining the Water at the proper temperature to generate the required amount of steam. The operation of the device 61 is thus dependent upon the quantity of steam permitted by the de-A 4 to lovv through. the pipe 23.l When the use of gas from'the holder is disperiod, the generation ofa neivher the combustion in the. fuel'bed nor the gas burner flame is extinguished, because the pipe 66 is connected Withthe holder, instead of directly with the gas. genera-tor, and 'becausethis pipe'66 is'fmaintained in colnn'iuuication with theholder, the valve^65 being partially open even. Whenv moved as far as possible by the device 61, thus always insuring at least a small supply of. gas tothe burner 16.' Thus a small quantity of gas maybe generate to compensate for the small supplyto the burner, and during this periodV the operation of the automatic fea;-y tures is similar, to that .described above. During 'this period the valve 65 may open at times to a. considerable extent, because the fire bed may not be h ot enough tokeep up the steam pressure. Hence the holder is -kept filled, the steampressure is kept up, the

water level is maintained, and the fire is kept alive, until it is again desired to draw off gas vfrom the holder for external use, which can be again begun Without any delay. Thereupon, the val-ve 24 Will be opened Wider, and,'since the fuel bed may not be' suiciently hot, the valve 65 may open much'wider to keip up the steam pressure until such pres,- sure may be maintained by the fire alone or bythe fire with a smaller opening ofthe valve 65. l

Having thus describedmyinvention, I claim and 'desire to secuie by Letters Patent.: t

...Les 1 935,429

l. rlhe combination in gas `generating apparatus, olf a producer fasin'g, a pertorattal blast pipe therein. and a series ot' independently valved branches tor conveying the blast to said pipe, said branches being disposed at intervals throughout the length ot the pipe .vhereby the blast to ditt'erent portions ot the pipe can be indepemlently controlled,

' substantially as specitied.

' i2. rlhe combination m gas generating apparatus, ot a producer casing having ay ivater jacket constituting a st xam generator, tubes in said water jacket, and a` gas burner t'or supplying products ol" combustion to said tubes.

ln ay gas generating apparatus, the combination ola gas generating chamber, a blast pipe therelor, a series ol independently valved branches tor conve \,'ingblast. to said chamber whereby the blast to the dil'l'ereutI parts ot the chamber can be independently com rolled.

Ll-. ,l u a gas generating apparatus, the comhination ot a gas generating chamber provided ivith a water jacket, tubes within said jacket and a gas burner tor supplying products ot combustion to said tubes.

5. 'ln a gas generating apparatus, the combination ot a gas lrcneratlng chamber iroh. vided with a water jacket, tubes within said picket and means tor supplying a` regulable quantity ot' the products ol combustion to said tubes.

(S. ln a` eas generating a )aratus the com- 1*: h 1 7 binalion ot a gas generating chamber, a blast pipe thert'ftor, a series oil? independently valved branches jlor conveying blast to said chambcn' uniereby the blast to the different parts ot the chamber can be nidependently controlled, and means common to all of saidv branches and dependent upon the pressure ot the gas generated vin said chamber tor controlling the delivery ol'A the blast tln'ough said pipe.

7. ln a gas generatingapparatus, the combination ot a generating chamber provided with a water jacket, tubes located within said water jacket, a gas burner for supplying l at to said tubes and means, dependent upon the pressure generated within said jacket, Vlor controlling the delivery ot gas to said burner.

S. lu a gas generating apparatus, a gas produeer,a Isteam boiler arranged to derive heat 't'rom the said producer, a t'uel bed blast varranged to derive steam 'l'rom the said boiler, a` supplemental heating agent tor the boiler, the operation ot which is dependent upon the pressure within the boiler, and means dependent. upon the gas pressure tor controlling sail fuel bed blast.

t). In a gas generating apparatus, a gas producer, a steam boiler arranged to derive heat therefrom, a steam and air fuel bed blast connected to said boiler, an agentde pendent upon the eas pressure. at the outlet otl the apparatus for controlling the steam entering 'said blast, and means dependent on the amount ot steam entering said blast Wherebv the proportions of air and steam are maintained substantially constant underl varying volumes ot ,steam supply.

10. ln a gas-geneating apparatus, a gas producer, a st x.am boiler arranged to derive heat from said producer, an automaticallyv controlltal water supply tor said boiler, a steam and air fuel bed blast for the prod neer, means whereby said blast is controlled bv the gas pressure at the outlet of the apparatus, and independent heating means tor said boiler operatively dependent upon the pressure within said boiler.

ll. ln a gas generating apparatus, a gas prmlucer, a steam bloiler ar anged to derive heat l'rom said producer, a steam and air 'taci bed blast and agents whereby the amount et steam supplied. to said blast is controlled by the pressure at the outlet of the appa ratus and the amount of air supplied thereto is controlled by the volume of steam componentot said blast.

12. ln a gas generatii'igapparatus, the conibination with a gas producer, of a steam generator', a fuel bed blast connected thereto, an agent having a movable element subject to the pressure ot the 'gas produced, means controlled bv said movable element for regulating said blast, a burner receiving` gas from the producer for heating the steam generator independent ot the sensible heat of the gas generated, and means dependent upon the steam pressure within the steam generator `tor regulating the supply olf gas to the burner, a water supply pipe lor the steam gene 'ator and means dependent. upon the Water level in the steam generator tor controlling the lloiv through the wat r supply pipe.

13. ,ln a gas generating apparatus, the combination with a gas producer, of a steam generator,`means 'tor simplying steam from- .said generator and means dependent upon the volume oit the generated gas for controlling the steam supplied to said producer.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this spccitication, in the presence et two subscribing witnesses.

J )llN ll. STRINGHAM. 4

Witnesses F. E. BECH'roLD, b Jos. ld. KLEIN. 

